nce proclaimed that he was not a pedestrian, save from choice, and was
merely sauntering along in advance of his carriage. In the mere cursory
glance Frank bestowed upon him he could see that he was a young and
handsome man, with a certain soldierlike bearing in his air that well
suited his bold but somewhat stern features.

"You journey well, young fellow," said he, addressing Frank familiarly.
"This is the fifth day we have been fellow-travellers; and although I
have post-horses, you have always kept up with me on your feet."

Frank touched his cap with a somewhat stiff courtesy at this
unceremonious address; and, without deigning a reply, employed himself
in arranging the straps of his knapsack.

"Are you a soldier?" asked the stranger.

"A cadet!" replied Frank as bluntly.

"In what regiment, may I ask?"

"The Franz Carl."

"Ah! my own old corps," said the other, gayly. "I served four years with
them in the Banat. From what part of the Empire are you you have n't the
accent of an Austrian?"

"I am an Irishman."

"Oh! that explains it. And your name?"

"Dalton. And now, sir, what may be yours, for I don't see why this
curiosity is to be one-sided," said Frank, with an air even more
insolent than the words.

"I am Count Ernest of Walstein," said the other, without a touch of
irritation.

[Illustration: 356]

"What rank do you hold in the service?" asked Frank, boldly.

"That of lieutenant-colonel, boy."

"And your age may be about thirty?" said Frank, half in question and
half in sarcasm.

"I was twenty-eight last August," was the calm reply.

"By Jove! that is a service!" exclaimed Frank, "where a man scarcely ten
years my senior may command a regiment!"

The other laughed, and after a brief pause, said, "People are in the
habit of calling me fortunate, so that you must not suppose my case to
be the rule."

"Be it so: even as an exception, the example is a bright one. Another
may do what you have done."

"If you mean that I have earned my rank by services, boy," said the
Count, smiling, "you would make a grave mistake. My promotion had
another source."

Frank looked as though he were curious to hear the explanation, but the
other gave none.

"How do you call yourself?" asked he of Frank, after a pause.

"Dalton," replied the boy, more respectfully than before.

"We have a field-marshal of that name in the service, a most gallant old
soldier, too."

"My grand-uncle!" cried Frank, wi